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Research Process

A general guide through the process of writing a researched paper or putting together a project that involves background research.

Bring It Together

  • Keep careful notes at every stage or utilize a citation management system like Zotero. You may think you'll remember what you have searched and where you found things, but it’s easy to forget or get confused.
  • Prepare a detailed outline for your paper that lays the foundation for a more in-depth and focused review of relevant research literature. 
    • How will you know you haven't done an effective job of synthesizing and thinking about the results of our initial search for related literature?
    • As you are composing your outline, are there gaps that appear in how you want to approach the study?
  • Write, write, write! A well-written paper will undoubtedly go through multiple revisions. Be sure to consult the resources below for additional guidance.

More Writing Resources